Champions League qualification comes into focus for Hearts today, when the draw is made for the second qualification round. Celtic’s name will not be pulled out of the bowl for another two weeks, while the playoff round starts four weeks tomorrow.
That is not a lot of time, but it is enough to get the necessary deals done and put us in a strong position to qualify for the tournament proper. Unfortunately, you and I are now conditioned to a frustrating process. Whatever the story behind Kelechi Iheanacho’s failed pursuit, it is totally consistent with how football transfers work.
Players employ agents to work as many angles with as many clubs as possible to get the best deal. If in demand, they will hold off until the last minute, as will their current clubs. The same will happen with the next negotiation, and the one after that. They only difference will be, agents will now smell blood in the water.
As Hyman Roth said to Michael, “This is the business we’ve chosen”. Understand the way football works, never complain about it. The job is not to get the world to bend to our way of doing business, it is to out-scheme the other schemers.
I expect we will spend a lot of money between now and the close of the window; enough to get us excited again. Will we spend it wisely, get value, develop a sustainable strategy, put us back to where we were in 2023? To paraphrase what Chevy Chase was told, “If I was trying to get [Celtic back on track], I sure as hell wouldn’t start from here.”
Argentina proved that it was possible to completely change the minds of neutrals who wanted you to win. It was a victory for football that Spain prevailed last night. Worthy world champions.
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I’m glad everyone thinks the same PeterL not. Turkeybhoy if making up a scenario about a human you know nothing about, with the purpose of vilifying or demeaning him, gets your dander up , you might want to ask yourself how happy you are with life. It doesn’t say anything about him. You could hedge your bets like Chairbhoy say we will win everything next year then bag everyone with any connection to Celtic. I don’t know if we can match last years heroics but I can’t wait until the hoops get back in a competitive game. I know that every player will be putting their heart and soul into it. I hope that we are deserving. Hail Hail.
Gedinte @6.16am
100%. To borrow a famous movie quote, we’re drowning here and the dwindling group of happy clappers are describing the water. Cui bono?
Good morning CQN
if making up a scenario about a human you know nothing about,
you might want to ask yourself how happy you are with life. It doesn’t say anything about him
Pot calling the kettle black
Affoot.CSC
Good morning all.
Wow some pretty pathetic sad folks wallowing in a bit of chaos at Celtic right now.
I really do understand the bloggers who make money from it. The acsoms and the like. Ripping off the fans and the club with their negativity.
The attention seekers in our plastic rebels in the north curve who get their necessary little moment of Warhol fame are understandable too.
Sad and bitter old nobodies who have waited for 25 years to show how right they were. Maybe I don’t get that. Especially as they have had to live through incredible Celtic success to get there.
Still they can always say they told you so.
I bet Peter Lawwell is glad to be out of it. To think he used to cop the blame from these bitter wee nomarks.
Good Morning Fholk – Grand Day To Be A Tim…
Turkeybhoy @ 2:48 pm,
” Decimated by BR,sadly”,
The meanderings of a lunatic.
13 trophies from 15.
You know the rules – all good signings were the Lawwells’ all poor signings Brendan Rodgers’ if you can pin it on him then find another patsy…
As for the trophies…. all big Pedro’s during his generation of domination….
Please pay attention…
Heard how the head of Real Federación Española de Fútbol’s: family, friends and associates are telling everyone how he won the World Cup single handedly…
They say it’s him that should get the player’s bonuses… 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Hail Hail
Good morning CQN
Another fine day to be a Celt.
I’ll be one of the first to celebrate continued success over the last decade.
In the interests of factual accuracy …
… what does “13 of 15” refer to ?
BTW – looking from the outside in … it would appear that the reporting of the CEO’s comments by the AICSC
… has been the catalyst for a series of recent statements being released by other groups who are part of the collective?
Perhaps “the mute” should have stayed mute.
🤔🤔🤔
Burnley78 on 21st July 2026 9:17 am
It’s not often I agree with you
But Hail Hail to all of that
67ECW
Good luck to Andy on his first full day in the new job.
If the comments from Steve Reed and Darren Jones …
… allegedly on the same side as him
… are anything to go by? (tone AND timing)
… He’s in for an interesting ride.
Parochial, opportunistic self interest trumping the old greater good.
A nest of vipers.
Perhaps a margin note, but Michael Nicholson has a qualification from Harvard Business School: Changing the Game – Negotiation and Competitive Decision Making.
I wonder if it’s too late for a refund?
B78 – you know the rules: those running Celtic during the past 25 years deserve no credit whatsoever as even a monkey could have delivered success in the tin-pot backwater that is the SPL, but Brendan Rogers singlehandedly won all those trophies because he’s an “elite manager”.
Please pay attention 😂😂😂😂😂😆😆😂🤣
Burnley
You incorrigible old snob you! 😆😆😆
I really do understand the bloggers who make money from it. The acsoms and the like. Ripping off the fans and the club with their negativity.
Just what fans are saying about the board. Have you bought all the new strips. You got the time there pal
.
but Brendan Rogers singlehandedly won all those trophies because he’s an “elite manager”.
GM well you passing DAMASCUS by any chance.
FAVOURITE UNCLE @ 10:47 am,
Maybe the great epiphany explained who Kasper Hogh was at the same time:)))
SportsTouristINC
Hail Hail
CHAIRBHOY
Angry bhoys 🤣
Probably still reeling from Paul’s ‘Fiasco’‘ article.
I blame the ‘supporters’ the default mechanism. You know things are bad when 53.000 renewers are staying away, and the get along when I can brigade still canny. 🤣
The fun will start with first sale , the good news is that the window is open for 4 wks after flag day. 🤣
‘We tend to do our business towards the end of the window” that old one. But six weeks to recover from a four year inability to do your jobs properly is a tough ask.
I blame the Good weather CSC
Yes, they’ll get around to it – for Micheal and Chris the weather is certainly not helping, turning the fiasco into fiesta…
🎶Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and nachos and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer🎵
Hail Hail
I’d always thought the lyrics to that toon were….
‘Those days of soda and crepe soles and beer…’
I presumed it a homage to 50s teddy boy culture.
Never knew what a pretzel was.
PretzelLogic CSC
#steelydan
Does anyone have problems logging in? It often takes several attempts plus sometimes, when I do get logged in and then move onto the next page, I’m logged out again😮
Lest it be forgotten Brendan Rodgers got us into the Europa League last season…..
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 21ST JULY 2026 10:20 AM
Perhaps a margin note, but Michael Nicholson has a qualification from Harvard Business School: Changing the Game – Negotiation and Competitive Decision Making.
I wonder if it’s too late for a refund?
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